Trousers-stretcher



No. 6l4,447. Patented Nov. 22, I898.

P. G. ESSON.

TROUSERS STRETGHER.

(Application filed Feb. 12, 1898.

We Model.)

avwewboz- UNITED STATES PATENT @rrica PETER G. ESSON, OF OCONTO WISCONSIN.

TROUSERS-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,447, dated November 22, 1898.

Application filed February 12, 1898. Serial No. 670,123. .(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER Gr. ESSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oconto, in the county of Oconto and State of VVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trousers Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in trousers-stretchers; and the object of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned which is simple in construction and one which is also adapted to be employed upon trousers of different sizes.

A further object of the invention is to embody in the construction of the trousersstretcher simple and efficient means whereby the degree of tension may be readily adjusted; and,-furthermore, the invention contemplates the provision of other means whereby the stretcher may be retained in proper position when applied.

With these and other objectsin view, which will appear as the nature of the improvements is better understood, the invention consists substantially in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trousers-stretcher constructed in accordance with the present invention, the same being illustrated in open position or that which is assumed when applied to a pair of trousers. Fig. 2 is a side elevation illustrating the closed position thereof. Fig. 3 is an end elevation, and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of one of the springs.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a pair of expansion-bars, which bars are pivotally connected together at a point intermediate their ends by a rivet 2 or its equivalent.

The numeral 3 designates a pair of stretcher-bars, which bars extend parallel with each other and lie in the same plane, said stretcher-bars being connected to the expansionbars by a series of coil-springs 4 and having their outer edges beveled for a purpose to be presently stated. It will be noted, however, that said springs are so arranged as to connect the ends of the stretcher-bars with the ends of the expansion-bars, the inner ends of the springs 4 being bent at an angle,as at 5, to the body portion thereof and entering the expansion-bars l. The purpose of this construction is to permit of the springs 4 being capable of slight vibratory motion, but not sufficient to dislodge the bent ends from their respective bars. The opposite ends of the springs 4 are flattened out, as at'6, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and by reason of the springs 4 it Will be seen that the stretcher-bars 3 are capable of adjusting themselves to the trousers, the springs 4 contracting and eX- panding, so as to provide for the adjustment mentioned.

Itis to be noted at this pointthattthe springs at the upper end of the stretcher are of greater size than the springs at the lower end thereof, and hence offer less resistance to the action of the bars3 than do said lower springs, and it will be further observed that the coils of the springs at one side of the stretcher are reversed to the coils at the other side, whereby the stretcher-bars 3 lie in the same plane, so as to enable the crease being properly formed in the legs of the trousers.

A locking-bar 7 is pivotally secured to the upper end of one of the expansion-bars, said locking-bar being provided with a longitudinally-elongated slot 8, provided at one of its sides with a series of notches 9, and said slot 8 receives a stud or pin 10, which is carried by the adjacent end of the other expansionbar. The stud or pin 10 is adapted to enter the notches 9, and by reason of this it will be readily seen that the stretcher may be maintained in open position at any point desired throughout the length of the slot 8.

Mounted upon the lower end of one of the expansion-bars 3 is a spring-clasp 11, which may be of any approved construction, and said clasp is adapted to hold the front of the bottom of the leg, so that the crease may be formed at the proper point therein.

The manner of using the herein-described stretcher is as follows: The stretcher being inserted within the leg of the trousers, the former is expanded to the desired extent,when the locking-bar 8 engages the stud or pin 10 through the notches 9, and thus retains the stretcher in its expanded position. By reason of the outer edges of the bars 3 being beveled it will be seen that the same readily form a crease in the leg, and consequently when the stretcher is removed the crease remains. By reason of the locking-bar S and the springclasp 11 it is apparent that under ordinary circumstances the stretcher will not be displaced; but when it is desired to remove the same it is simply necessary to release the locking-bar 8 from engagement with the stud or pin 10, when the stretcher may be removed and closed, as shown in Fig. 2, the lockingbar 8 lying between the expansion-bars 1, as

shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

While the construction herein shown and described is what is believed to be a preferable embodiment of the invention, yet it is to be understood that the latter is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction, and hence the same may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a stretcher of the class described, the combination with a series of expansion-bars pivotally connected together, of a series of stretcher-bars, springs arranged between said expansion and stretcher bars and connecting the latter with the former, and means for holding the bars in expanded position, substantially as described.

2. In a stretcher of the class described, the combination with a series of expansion-bars pivotally connected together, of a series of stretcher-bars,springs arranged between said expansion and stretcher bars and connecting the latter with the former, and a locking-bar carried by one of the expansion-bars and adapted to suitably engage the other for holding said bars in expanded position, substantially as described.

3. In a stretcher of the class described, the combination with a series of expansion-bars pivotally connected together, of a series of stretcher-bars, a series of bow-springs arranged between the expansion-bars and the stretcher-bars, whereby the latter are capable of yielding, and means for holding the bars in expanded position,substantially as described.

4. In a stretcher of the class described, the combination with a series of expansion-bars pivotally connected together, of a series of stretcher-bars, a series of bow-springs arranged between the expansion-bars and the stretcher-bars, whereby the latter are capable of yielding, and a locking-bar carried by one of the expansion-bars and adapted to suitably engage the other for holding said bars in expanded position, substantially as described.

5. In a stretcher of the class described, the combination with a series of expansion-bars pivotally connected together, of a series of stretcher-bars arranged parallel to each other, springs arranged between the stretcher-bars and the expansion-bars, whereby the former are capable of yielding, a locking-bar pivotally connected to one of the expansion-bars and provided with an elongated slot having a series of notches at one of its sides, a stud or pin carried by the other expansion-bar and disposed within said slot, said stud or pin being adapted to enter said notches for locking the expansion-bars in open position, and a clasp carried by one of the stretcher-bars and adapted for holding the stretcher in proper position in the leg of the trousers, substantially as described.

6. In a stretcher of the class described, the combination with a series of expansion-bars pivotally connected together, of a series of stretcher-bars arranged parallel to each other and having their outer edges beveled, springs arranged between the stretcher-bars and the expansion-bars, whereby the former are capable of yielding, a locking-bar pivotally connected to one of the expansion-bars and provided with an elongated slot having a series of notches at one of its sides, a stud or pin carried by the other expansion-bar and disposed within said slot, said stud or pin being adapted to enter said notches for locking the expansion-bars in open position, and a clasp carried by one of the stretcher-bars and adapted for holding the stretcher in proper position in the leg of the trousers, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

PETER G. ESSON.

Witnesses:

A. J. CALDWELL, DANL. OKEEF. 

